Ukraine Launches Barrier-Free Language Exhibitions

Ukraine’s National Barrier-Free Week opened May 25 with a meeting of the National Barrier-Free Council, where First Lady Olena Zelenska called for more respectful language and announced a series of exhibitions to be presented across the country. The annual initiative runs through May 31.

Zelenska joined Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, government officials, regional military administration representatives, international partners and experts at the meeting. Discussions covered progress on barrier-free policies during the first quarter of 2026, as well as measures related to inclusive language and education.

The artistic project, “Barrier-Free Means Seeing the Person Behind the Words,” uses visual displays to highlight the importance of referring to people as individuals rather than defining them by a diagnosis, social status or life circumstances. The project was developed with UNICEF, the NGO Barrier-Free, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and the presidential adviser for a barrier-free environment, Tetiana Lomakina, under Zelenska’s “Without Barriers” initiative.

Zelenska said the exhibitions would be presented nationwide through a network of barrier-free ambassadors, with the goal of supporting dialogue in local communities rather than limiting the initiative to Kyiv. According to a UNICEF survey cited by the presidential website, 63% of Ukrainians have seen examples of barrier-free solutions in their communities.